Corn Poppy
Papaver rhoeas
Papaveraceae
Other names
Field Poppy, Flanders Poppy
Growth habit
Herbaceous
Perennation
Annual
Native distribution
Temperate Old World
Biocultural value
It was cultivated in ancient Egypt for medicinal use and for its edible seed oil. Seeds flavor and decorate breads and pastries. Crushed, sweetened seeds make a pastry filling.
Location
Source of plant
J.L. Hudson, Seedsman
Description
Annual to 90cm. Stems erect, branching, hispid, rarely glabrous. Leaves pinnate or pinnatisect, segments lanceolate, acuminate, to 15cm. Flowers solitary, to 7.5cm across; sepals hispid; petals orbicular or ovate, usually entire, occasionally crenate to emarginate, brilliant red, sometimes with black basal spot; stigmatic disc 5-18 rayed. Fruit subglobose, to 2cm, glabrous.
USDA Hardiness Zone
5
Special characteristics
medicinal/pharmaceutical, food